‘Mortal Kombat II’ Is Winning Big — So Why Is Todd Garner Fighting Reviewers Online?
For once, a Mortal Kombat movie isn’t getting absolutely demolished by critics — and somehow, that still wasn’t enough to stop a controversy from erupting online. Mortal Kombat II is currently sitting at a surprisingly strong 73% on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the best-reviewed live-action film in the franchise’s brutal history. Fans are hyped, early audiences are embracing the over-the-top carnage, and the sequel is tracking for a massive $80 million global debut. But instead of celebrating quietly, producer Todd Garner decided to jump straight into the arena swinging.
Garner took to X and blasted several critics who gave the movie negative reviews, accusing them of knowing absolutely nothing about Mortal Kombat lore. One complaint especially seemed to push him over the edge: a reviewer criticizing the film because “a guy had a laser eye.” Garner’s response was pure scorched-earth energy. According to him, these reviewers clearly “never played the game” and don’t understand what fans actually want from a Mortal Kombat movie in the first place.
Ironically, the backlash against Garner came almost immediately — not from critics, but from hardcore fans. Some pointed out that the recent movies themselves have already bent and rewritten chunks of the franchise canon, especially with the introduction of Cole Young and the controversial handling of Mileena and Kitana’s storyline. Garner’s surprisingly honest one-word response? “Fair.”
That moment alone may have saved the entire discourse from turning into a complete online bloodbath.
Meanwhile, the movie just received another huge boost internationally. Star Ludi Lin revealed that Mortal Kombat II will release in china completely uncut — a major first for the franchise and a potentially massive box office advantage. Between the franchise-best reviews, strong fan buzz, and unrestricted china release, Warner Bros. may finally have the Mortal Kombat movie fans have been waiting decades for.